LIVE REPORT: WARDRUNA, JO QUAIL 3OLYMPIA, DUBLIN 23.03.25

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Oran

From the moment Wardruna stepped onto the stage at Dublin’s 3Olympia, it was clear this was no ordinary concert. This was a mesmerising journey through time and sound. 

Photo – tnddrummer_photography

The air was thick with anticipation, the kind that comes before something truly immersive. As the lights dimmed and the first notes of “Kvitravn” rang out, the audience was transported—not just to another place, but to another time.

Before Wardruna took the stage, Jo Quail set the perfect tone with her masterful use of looping cello arrangements. Her performance was both hypnotic and deeply atmospheric, weaving a sonic spell that left the crowd silent and awestruck.

Photo – tnddrummer_photography

Then, the main event. Clad in traditional Norse-inspired garb, Einar Selvik and his ensemble emerged like spirits from the mists of history, their presence commanding yet understated. “Kvitravn“, the title track from their 2021 album, was the ideal opener—eerie, powerful, and steeped in the essence of Wardruna’s craft. From there, the setlist wove seamlessly through their discography, drawing from the Runaljod trilogy, Skald (2018), and more.

The pulse of “Solringen” from Yggdrasil (2013) had the crowd swaying, lost in its hypnotic rhythm. The percussive force of “Heimta Thurs” was almost primal, shaking the walls with its thunderous intensity. Then came a moment of stark vulnerability—Einar standing alone for a stripped-back, Skaldic rendition of “Völuspá“, his voice rich with storytelling tradition.

Few bands command silence the way Wardruna does. There’s an unspoken understanding at their shows—this isn’t just music, it’s a shared experience. Songs like “Lyfjaberg” and “Himinndotter” felt almost ceremonial, while “Rotlaust tre fell” and “Fehu” carried an energy that bordered on transcendental. But it was “Helvegen“, perhaps their most revered piece, that held the crowd in rapt awe. As the song’s solemn chorus rang out, voices joined in, creating a moment that felt like it belonged outside of time.

For the encore, Wardruna closed with “Hibjørnen“, an electrifying finale that left the room buzzing long after the final note faded.

With over 20 years of exploring the musical echoes of the past, Wardruna has carved out something truly unique—an experience that’s as much about feeling as it is about sound. In Dublin, they didn’t just perform; they conjured something ancient, something alive. And for those in attendance, it was nothing short of unforgettable.

Check out the photo gallery via the link below…

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Photos – tnddrummer_photography